BREAKING: Cubs Acquire Jharel Cotton from A’s

The Cubs have made their first noteworthy move to the roster in some time now after acquiring RHP Jharel Cotton from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations.

This trade has Theo Epstein written all over it. Cubs fans can think back to one notable trade where a high-potential player needed a change of scenery to unlock his full potential. Does Jake Arrieta ring a bell? Now, I’m not saying that Cotton is the next version of Jake Arrieta, but he does have a lot of talent and has not yet lived up to the bill.

In 2016, Cotton was the big piece going back to the A’s from the Dodgers in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick trade. Cotton made his debut for the A’s in early September and then pitched the entire 2017 season in Oakland.

2018 was a completely different story for Cotton. In March of 2018, Cotton underwent Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire season. In 2019, Cotton was rehabbing before a hamstring injury further delayed his comeback. Although he finally pitched at the Triple-A level in 2019, he was ultimately DFA’d by the A’s on November 20, 2019.

Cotton is a player that fans should keep an eye on. If the Cubs can help him get back to where his potential indicates he can be, there is a chance the Cubs could have found another diamond in the rough.

Featured Photo: John Angelillo/UPI